The Smart Passive Income Online Business And Blogging Podcast

#610 What is the number one strategy you should focus on in the coming years? At SPI, we believe that community is a massive part of the future of entrepreneurship. I'm pulling back the curtain today and revealing the exciting things we've been working on behind the scenes. Joining me are three brilliant members of our team. Jillian Benbow is the Community Experience Director at SPI. You’ve heard from her in episode 495, but today she introduces you to our newest community managers. David Masnato manages SPI Pro, while Ashley LaGrow is at the helm of our brand new Learner Community that we can’t wait to unveil! We talk about what it is and who it's for, and we give you a sneak peek at what we have in store for our members. You also get a look at our entire community strategy, with takeaways to help you future-proof your business. Whatever level you’re at, we have you covered at SmartPassiveIncome.com/community. Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/session610.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/pr

#609 As entrepreneurs, we often have legal questions but don’t even know where to start looking for answers. That’s why I wanted to create a go-to resource for us and shed some light on the common issues we might encounter in our businesses. I’m very excited about this episode because I’m chatting with my attorney, Mark Stansbury. He is a partner at Stansbury Weaver, where they’re rejecting the traditional law-firm model and have come up with fantastic new ways to serve entrepreneurs and startups. So when is the right time to register an LLC, and what about trademarking a name? What if someone is already using a similar name? Can you use other people’s content in your videos or podcast? And what can you do if someone else is using your content and making money off of it? Make sure to join us for this incredibly informative chat with Mark to find out more. Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/session609.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/

#608 I'm not afraid to admit when I make a mistake, and that’s exactly why I’m publishing this episode. You’ve heard me say this, “Nobody wakes up in the morning wanting more emails.” I was wrong about that, and I’ll tell you exactly why. There are newsletters that contain valuable niche content that people are excited to see pop up in their inboxes. James Clear’s 3-2-1 Newsletter, the Hot Pod newsletter for podcast industry news, and Morning Brew are great examples of this. The team and I have been hard at work to create something similar for the SPI audience. Today I want to introduce you to the Unstuck newsletter. With concise, five-minute lessons to help you get unstuck, this will be our weekly email that you can’t wait to read. Every message contains a story that will inspire you, and we’ll provide the resources you need to move to the next level in your business. We’re very excited to hear what you think! Show notes and more a SmartPassiveIncome.com/session608.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/pr

#607 What would you be able to accomplish if you had a second brain helping you? And no, science hasn’t found a way to clone your brain yet. What I’m talking about is a digital system that allows you to manage information and deliver high-quality work with less effort. Today’s guest, Tiago Forte, is a knowledge management expert. He helps thousands of people get more done through his unbelievable productivity course, Building a Second Brain. We talk about everything from finding the right software tools for your needs to Tiago’s CODE and PARA systems for note taking. He’s a big fan of acronyms, but you’ll find out what this all means and how these systems can revolutionize your work-life. This is a fascinating chat with Tiago, and we get into the step-by-step process you can use to take your productivity to the next level. Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/session607.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#606 What is our most important job as marketers? The number one thing we should do is help people make decisions. When potential customers come across our products they need to be able to understand if what we’re offering is right for them or not. So how do we do that? We’re talking about my OREO marketing strategy in this great Follow-Up Friday episode. That sounds delicious, I know, but OREO stands for objection, rebuttal, example, and outcome. I’ll give you an in-depth look at each of these four steps today, and you’ll be able to apply this simple tactic to your products and services. Once you understand the objections you hear and you address them directly with facts and real-life stories from your audience, you’ll get clear yes or no decisions from potential customers. So listen in on today’s episode for some tasty tips that will take your sales to the next level! Show note and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/session606.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at htt

#605 What happens if your business idea takes off, but you still don’t get the lifestyle you want? Many people quit traditional 9-to-5 jobs and start their entrepreneurial journey to have more freedom. But if we’re not baking that into our businesses from the start, will we ever get there? That's what my special guest and I talk about today. I had to have Richie Norton back on the show because his new book, Anti-Time Management, could be a game-changer for many of us. We get into the false promise of time management, its history, and what it was originally designed for. Richie talks about and shares the tools to help us start our business with our ultimate purpose in mind and build around it. This is a deep conversation that hits at the core of how and why we work. Listen in for some valuable insights and a new perspective on time management. Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/session605.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-no

#604 There are many tools out there that could make our lives easier as entrepreneurs. But how do you know which ones are right for you? This is something I used to struggle with. I would buy software or equipment before I had any concrete use for it. Little by little the costs would add up. It got to the point where I was almost afraid to keep track of my spending. So I have a challenge for you today. I’d like you to run an audit of the tools you’re paying for right now and think about which ones are vital for your business. The ones that aren’t? Consider cutting them out for the time being. Ask yourself — "Do I need this right now? Is this going to help me, or is it just distracting me?" Listen in on today’s episode to hear about how I was finally able to tackle this issue. Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/session604.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#603 One of my favorite things is to invite people on the show who have special access to information we can’t get from anywhere else. I’m talking about analytics and strategies we can all use. My guest shares all of that with us today and more! I’m interviewing Drew Dillon, the founder of Burb, in this episode. If you have an online community, you can use Burb to understand more about what's happening in that community, and create data-backed systems to improve the experience your members have. So how do you engage folks, and what are the rituals that keep people coming back? Drew gives us an inside look at what works and what doesn’t. He shares the strategies that many of his most successful clients use, and we dive deep into things like onboarding and events. This is a perfect companion episode to my interview with Jillian Benbow, our Community Experience Director at SPI Pro. By the way, we’re putting a cap on SPI Pro. If you’re not in already, now is the time to apply. Show notes and more at SmartPassiveI

#602 Today I'm spilling some truth and sharing things that are going to upset a few people. We'll be discussing three things that people, friends, and even mentors and coaches told me to do. This is common advice that you might hear as well and that I decided to ignore. We’ll talk about the push-back I received when I first started the podcast and wanted to have John Melley, the awesome voice-over guy, read a fun fact about me in each episode. We’re also going to discuss focusing on one thing and one thing only in business. This is advice that I followed for the longest time, but have since come up with a different rule that works better for me. Finally, I'll share the advice I got about content creation and how following it led me to burnout. You’ll hear all about what I’m doing now instead. And yes, ironically, I’m sharing lots of advice in this episode. Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/session602.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com

#601 How do you build trust with someone who’s just visiting your website? How do you connect and convert them into paying customers right then and there? In business, we often have so many big ideas that we forget to go back to the tried and true fundamentals, like gathering testimonials from our audience. Today I’m chatting with Casey Hill, the Head of Growth at Bonjoro. They've created a testimonial tool that I think is absolutely revolutionary. Imagine this, you send a link to a customer of yours, and it then prompts them with the exact questions that lead to the most fruitful text or video testimonials and case studies that you could ever ask for. But what does a good testimonial even look like? When is the best time to ask for testimonials, and what are the precise questions you should ask? Casey shares all of this along with some massive tips you can use in your business, no matter which tools you use. Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/session601.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/priv

#600 Episode 600. Wow! I really appreciate all of you and a big thank you for helping me get here! We usually like to do something big for these milestone episodes, but I’m flying solo today. I have a fishing story for you that's actually a business analogy because that’s what I do. I'll get into a hobby because I enjoy it. And then I take my business experience and lay it over on top. So, there are going to be days when you do everything right. You have the right line, you have the right bait, you have the right location. You're doing all the same motions that everybody else is doing. And you're getting nothing. Why is that? What can we do about it? Well, I have some tips for you today, so join me for this milestone episode. Again, a huge thank you to all of you, and Team Flynn for the win! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/session600.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#599 How do you keep getting back up after being knocked down again and again? Natasha was hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt and living in a hostel with her son, but everything changed for her when she started serving others. This is an incredible survival story and we’re going to hear the whole thing today from Natasha Graziano. If you need motivation, I guarantee this episode will help you overcome whatever challenges you’re facing. Natasha helps people realize their full potential. She is a bestselling author, mindset coach, and the Forbes #1 Female Motivational Speaker Under 40. We covered a lot of ground in this interview, everything from neuroscience to overcoming impostor syndrome and taking the woo-woo out of the law of attraction. We also get some of the valuable lessons Natasha has learned while growing her Instagram page to eleven million followers! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/session599.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https:

#598 It’s becoming more common to see couples not just starting a family but also starting businesses together. But is going into business with your spouse or partner a good idea? Finley Robinson is taking over the show today to talk about his experience working with his wife, Brooke. They run B•TRIBAL•FIT together, and Finley has come up with a three-point process for couples considering this kind of lifestyle: simplifying your priorities, having the discipline to stay in your lane, and finding your own balancing act. You’ll get an in-depth exploration of each of these points in this episode. Finely also shares how he and his wife handle the “wow” and the “how” that have made their business a success. These Teaching Friday episodes, hosted by members of SPI Pro, are jam-packed with actionable tips. This one is no exception. Listen in to find out how to run a business as a couple while preserving your relationship. Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/session598.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.co

#597 When I was at Social Media Marketing World earlier this year, I heard something that just blew me away. It was the story of a 10-year-old who started his first business and sold it for $15,000 three months later. Today on the show, we get the complete story and a heavy dose of inspiration from Ryland Dixon himself. Ryland is now twelve years old, and he joins me on the show to give us a wonderful inside look at his membership site, Bible Builds. You’ll get to hear how Ryland came up with his business idea, and we talk about the challenges and lessons learned along the way. That’s not all, though. We also get a first look at Ryland’s new venture, Kid Business Club. He already has something else in the works, and the way he’s thinking about promoting this new business is insanely creative. Ryland is a super smart kid and this is an inspiring interview for us all! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/session597.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https:/

#596 What if you had an offer people just couldn’t refuse? And no, I don’t mean going all The Godfather on your audience. I’m talking about making your products and services irresistible. Karthik Vijayakumar is talking over the show today to teach us his simple three-step copywriting process. He is the host of the Launch Plan podcast, creator of the Sales Copy Mastery series, and the founder of Design Your Thinking. Karthik will walk you through the exact steps you need to take to craft an irresistible offer. This is another installment in our Teaching Friday series, where we invite members of the SPI Pro community to share their expertise with our listeners. By the end of the episode, you'll be able to apply what you’ve learned to websites, sales pages, email campaigns, social media posts, and wherever else you connect with your audience. Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/session596.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privac

#595 There’s no shortage of business strategies out there. But what if you’ve tried everything and nothing seems to stick? The key is adapting these tactics to your niche, your business, your audience. When Matt Giovanisci finally did that, his business skyrocketed. Now he’s the absolute authority in his niche and he’s bringing in hundreds of new subscribers per day. So what’s the business? Pool maintenance. Yes, pool maintenance! We always say the riches are in the niches. Matt is a classic example of that, and today we get to hear his whole story. We talk about the simple strategy that changed everything for him, selling digital and physical products, opting out of new trends, and much more. It was a fascinating chat with loads of actionable advice for us. Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/session595.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#594 As an entrepreneur, you’re creating something special and carving your own path. That isn’t always easy. You’re likely putting a lot of pressure on yourself and likely setting yourself up to experience some degree of burnout. Valerie Hamaker is a professional counselor, private practice owner, and host of the Generation Xhausted podcast. She’s taking over the show today to share her fantastic eight-step process for healing and managing burnout. These Teaching Friday episodes, hosted by members of SPI Pro, are jam-packed with actionable tips and this one is no exception. Valerie sees burnout as a symptom of being estranged from where we're supposed to be in our lives. We’re very lucky to have her walk us through every step we need to take to begin the healing process and come out on the other end with a new perspective. Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/session594.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#593 College is expensive. Shoker, I know. But did you know that the “four-year degree” is basically a myth at this point? Fewer than 40% of students graduate in four years. For most, it takes six years to earn a bachelor’s degree. College Flight Plan helps students discover their strengths, values, and goals and save between $50K and $160K. Greg Langston is on the show today to walk us through how the program works and to give us an inside look at the business behind it. He tells us about the process of getting high-school students to plan ahead and the surprising transformations that have often shocked parents. These are steps you can take at any stage of your life to set and achieve goals. Greg also talks about how SPI Pro has helped him develop his pitch to students and parents, and he gives us some great marketing tips. The way he gets effective testimonials that paint a picture of what it’s like to work with him is pure genius! I just had to bring Greg on SPI to learn more about his business and amply h

# 592 Ever feel like your marketing is too salesy? The question is, can you stay true to yourself and still attract customers? You can! In fact, being upfront will likely lead to better results. That’s why Daphne Gomez is taking over the show today to talk about mindful marketing. This is another installment in our Teaching Friday series, where we invite members of SPI Pro to share their expertise with our listeners. Daphne has mindful marketing down to a three-step process: creating your brand values, developing a brand tone of voice, and auditing your current approach with your core values in mind. These practices will help you attract the people you can best serve, the ones who will become your supefans and help you have a bigger impact. Show notes and more at smartpassiveincome.com/session592.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#591 How do people go from first discovering our businesses to investing thousands of dollars with us? You might think that's impossible, but today we talk about the funnels that can get you there. Rick Mulready, from The Art of Online Business Podcast, returns to the show and we go deep on creating relationships with your audience. We start at the moment people first come across your content and go all the way to the ultimate level: high-ticket items your superfans would go nuts for! You're likely serving your audience through courses, but what about the students who want to go deeper with you? You need to go beyond the norm and come up with unique experiences they'd love. We geek out on funnels and pricing and come up with exercises you can use to move your business forward at any level. Show notes and more at smartpassiveincome.com/session591.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.